Babies & Bathwater

BABIES & BATHWATER

Take the meat, but leave the bones,
We don’t listen but we aughtta.
Responding with rolled eyes and moans.
Tossing babies out with bathwater.

It sure wouldn’t kill us to shut up,
And maybe learn a thing or two,
From folks who drank a bitter cup,
Who can prevent the same for you.

An ounce of prevention is equal,
To a pound of a bitter cure.
See advice as the rosy prequel,
And mistakes as the heap of manure.

Me, I’ll sit and listen to advice,
Mull over it a little and then digest,
Infusing my attitude that I’ll splice,
Just to add some personal interest.

Comparing advice to babies is fine
Just know when to draw the line
Like a cat who reaches life nine
I'm careful giving advice that's mine

But you'll save yourself a world,
Of stress, money, and hubbub,
If you would have only hurled,
Bathwater but kept baby & tub.

author's notes:
A dear old family friend who passed away some years back often said-
"take the meat and leave the bones." She had a shrill voice, was rather
plus-sized, and wore her hair in a tight little bun.She was like
Grandma Walton on steroids.Her opinions were given along with the
advice that we'd better adhere to it. I miss her saying things like,
"Well, Bless your heart, liver, gizzard, and bacon!",
which also made me hungry whenever she said it because I love bacon.
She also insisted I try new foods, like pickled pigs feet and stuffed grape
leaves. I think she's one of the reasons I'm a great cook.

Proverbs 13:10-
"Pride leads only to arguements,
but those who take advice are wise."



Proverbs 6:20 -23-

“Good friend, follow your father’s good advice;
don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.

Wrap yourself in them from head to foot;
wear them like a scarf around your neck.

Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you;
whenever you rest, they’ll guard you;

When you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.

For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light,
moral discipline is a life path.”

Proverbs 12:15-
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.”


1 Corinthians 4:14-“I do not write this to shame you,
but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children.”